Verse-by-Verse Bible Commentary
Proverbs 29:24

Clarke's Commentary

Verse Proverbs 29:24. Hateth his own soul — נפשו naphsho, his life, as the outraged law may at any time seize on and put him to death.

He heareth cursing — אלה alah, the execration or adjuration, (for all culprits were charged, as before God, to tell the truth,) ולא יגד velo yaggid, but HE will not tell IT. He has no fear of God, nor reverence for an oath, because his heart is hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

Bridgeway Bible Commentary

Authority with justice (29:1-27)

Many themes that we have already met in Proverbs are repeated in this section: stubbornness, good and bad government, family values, prostitution, justice, flattery, cunning and concern for the poor (29:1-7). Scoffers are more than just fools; they are trouble-makers. They are not open to reason and cannot control their temper (8-11).
Unjust rulers oppress innocent citizens, and the rich persecute the poor, but good and bad alike receive the blessings that God gives to people in general (12-13). The ruler of a country and the head of a family should work for the contentment and well-being of those for whom they are responsible, but they can expect success only if they themselves are good and just. The pursuit of righteousness leads to stability (14-17).
One reason for a nation’s spiritual or moral decay is its neglect of the revealed word of God (18). A stubborn servant is a problem for his master, but a shrewd servant, if he receives too many favours, could one day take over his master’s property (19-21). Those who are bad tempered or arrogant bring trouble, not just to others but also to themselves (22-23).
When a person who was partner in a crime refuses to give evidence to the judge, his guilt increases (24). There can be no justice when the basis of people’s decision-making is fear of those who are influential or partiality towards those who are their friends (25-27).

Coffman's Commentaries on the Bible

“Whoso is partner with a thief hateth his own soul; He heareth the adjuration and uttereth nothing.”

“The background of this appears to be the situation described in Leviticus 5:1. A curse is pronounced upon an unknown thief, which is heard by one of the thief’s associates. However, the associate does not reveal what he knows; and so he bears the full brunt of the curse, as well as the thief. Such a man, `hates his own soul.’ The crime is bad enough, but the failure to confess is suicidal.”Broadman Bible Commentary (Nashville: Broadman Press, 1971), Vol. 5, p. 92. The mention of the word `adjuration,’ here, “Is probably a reference to an oath in court, thus adding perjury to dishonesty.”The New Layman’s Bible Commentary, p. 736.

Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible

On the first discovery of the theft, the person wronged Judges 17:2, or the judge of the city (marginal reference), pronounced a solemn curse on the thief and on all who, knowing the offender, were unwilling to give evidence against him. The accomplice of the thief hears that curse, and yet is silent, and so falls under it, and “destroys his own soul.”

Smith's Bible Commentary

Chapter 29

He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy ( Proverbs 29:1 ).

That is a heavy, heavy proverb. The person that is often reproved by God. How many times God has reproved you for your evil. God has reproved you for your sin. And you've hardened your heart to God's reproof. You go right back into the same thing. You do it over again. And God has reproved you. He, that being often reproved, you begin to harden your heart against that reproof of God. Now what's going to happen is that you're going to be destroyed suddenly, and that without remedy. That is really heavy-duty indeed. The sudden destruction that will come upon you without any remedy. It's terrible when God says, "Hey, that's it. There's no remedy." And lets a person go.

When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked are ruling, the people mourn. Whoso loveth wisdom rejoiceth his father: but he that keeps company with harlots is wasting his substance. The king by judgment establishes the land: but he that receiveth gifts overthroweth it. A man that flattereth his neighbor spreadeth a net for his feet. And in the transgression of an evil man there is a snare: but the righteous doth sing and rejoice. The righteous considereth the cause of the poor: but the wicked regards not to know it. Scornful men bring a city into a snare: but wise men turn away wrath ( Proverbs 29:2-8 ).

There are cases of this in history in the Bible where the scorners brought the city into battle, into war. But there are other cases where wise counsel saved the cities from destruction, or people from destruction. You remember when David was desiring some food for his men from Nabal, and he had been with Nabal's men; he'd been around them. And David had, you know, sort of overseen the guys. They were protecting them and all. And so when David needed food, he came to Nabal and Nabal cursed David and said, "Who's David and so forth that I should give him food?" He was just really rank about it. So David armed his men; he was going to go after old Nabal. You know, wipe him out. And his wife Abigail came and said, "Oh, my husband, he's a dunce. Don't pay any attention. Why should you waste your time with a character like that? And now, you know, here, take this." She brought him a bunch of food and all. And told David just not to. Her wise counsel. He said, "Oh, blessed is your counsel, you know, because if it weren't for you, I would have spilled that guy's blood. I mean, I was mad at him. I was going to do him in."

So through wise counsel the wars are averted. The city is spared. But through scornful men, the city can be brought into snare or destruction.

If a wise man contendeth with a foolish man, whether he rage or laugh, there is no rest. The bloodthirsty hate the upright: but the just seek his soul. A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it till afterwards. If a ruler hearken to lies, all of his servants are wicked. The poor and the deceitful man meet together: the LORD lighteneth both their eyes. The king that faithfully judgeth the poor, his throne shall be established for ever ( Proverbs 29:9-14 ).

And now we have a couple here that have to do with children, fifteen and seventeen.

The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame. Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yes, he will give delight unto thy soul ( Proverbs 29:15 , Proverbs 29:17 ).

Going back now to sixteen.

When the wicked are multiplied, transgression increaseth: but the righteous shall see their fall ( Proverbs 29:16 ).

Eighteen:

Where there is no vision, the people perish ( Proverbs 29:18 ):

God help us. We've got to have a vision for the Lord's work and for the accomplishing of the Lord's work. People that are without a vision perish.

but he that keepeth the law, happy is he ( Proverbs 29:18 ).

We've heard this, "Where no vision is, the people perish." That's a very often-quoted proverb.

A servant will not be corrected by words: for though he understand he will not answer. Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words? there is more hope for a fool than for him ( Proverbs 29:19-20 ).

So be slow to speak.

He that delicately bringeth up his servant from a child shall have him become his son at the length ( Proverbs 29:21 ).

If you take good care in bringing up a servant from a child, he becomes like a son to you.

An angry man stirs up strife, a furious man abounds in transgressions. A man's pride shall bring him low: but honor shall uphold the humble in spirit. And whoso is partner with a thief hates his own soul: he hears cursing, and bewrayeth it not ( Proverbs 29:22-24 ).

Twenty-five:

The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso puts his trust in the LORD shall be safe ( Proverbs 29:25 ).

"The fear of man brings a snare." It will cause even great men, the fear of man will cause even great men to do untoward things. Because of the fear of King Abimelech, Abraham tried to toss his wife off as a sister. It was the fear of Abimelech that caused Abraham to say, "She's my sister." The fear of man brings a snare.

My great hero David was afraid of King Achish who was the king of the Philistine city of Gath, and David suddenly became afraid that Achish would maybe imprison him or something. And so David began to act like a madman. Look what the fear of man will do to otherwise great men. Here is David, slobbering all over his beard, screaming and scrabbling, trying to climb the walls, just because he was afraid of Achish. "The fear of man brings a snare, but whoso puts his trust in the Lord, he shall be safe." So we need not have the fear of man, but we surely need to put our trust in the Lord.

Many seek the ruler's favor; but every man's judgment cometh from the LORD ( Proverbs 29:26 ).

The real decision-making process comes from God. You seek the ruler's favor, but the judgment really proceeds from the Lord.

An unjust man is an abomination to the just: and he that is upright in the way is an abomination to the wicked ( Proverbs 29:27 ). "

Dr. Constable's Expository Notes

The bad thing about being a thief’s partner, is that when the thief gets caught, and the authorities haul his partner into court, the accomplice finds himself in a "no win" situation. If he defends his partner, he shares his guilt, but if he says nothing (or pleads the fifth amendment), his accusers assume he shares his guilt. Many a businessman has discovered this to his sorrow.

Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

Whoso is partner with a thief,.... That robs and steals, and raises away another man's property; which to do is sinful and contrary to the law of God, and punishable by it; and so it is to join with him in the theft, or to devise, or consent unto it; or to receive the stolen goods, or to hide and conceal them; or to hide the thief, or the theft, and not declare them; see Psalms 50:18. Such an one

hateth his own soul; that is, he is not careful of it, he is not concerned for its welfare as he should be; for otherwise no man, properly speaking, hates his own flesh or body, and much less his soul; but he is negligent of the good of it, and, for the sake of the mammon of unrighteousness, runs the risk of the ruin of it; by which he shows that he loves the world more than his own soul; when the profit of the whole world is nothing to the soul of man, Matthew 16:26; see Proverbs 8:36;

he heareth cursing, and bewrayeth [it] not; or "does not declare it" b; he heareth the cursing of those that have lost their goods, and yet he does not declare where they are, and who is the author of the theft, though he knows; or, being suspected of being concerned in it, or, at least, of knowing who did it, be is had before a civil magistrate, and an oath is given him, which he takes, and yet he conceals the matter: which is an aggravation of his sin, and brings ruin to his soul. So the Targum,

"an oath is determined (or brought to him) and he confesseth not.''

Some understand this of a distinct evil, of hearing cursing and swearing, and taking the name of God in vain, and blasphemy against him; yet, through fear of incurring the displeasure of men, and being reckoned a busy body, or through indifference and want of zeal for the glory of God, do not discover it, or inform of it, to a proper person, for the punishment of such; see Leviticus 5:1; and render the words c, as "he that is partner with a thief hateth his own soul; [so] he that heareth cursing, and betrayeth it not."

b ולא יגיד "et non indicat", Junius & Tremellius, Mercerus, Cocceius, Schultens, Michaelis. c So Gejerus.

Henry's Complete Commentary on the Bible

      24 Whoso is partner with a thief hateth his own soul: he heareth cursing, and bewrayeth it not.

      See here what sin and ruin those involve themselves in who are drawn away by the enticement of sinners. 1. They incur a great deal of guilt: He does so that goes partner with such as rob and defraud, and casts in his lot among them,Proverbs 1:11; Proverbs 1:11, c. The receiver is as bad as the thief and, being drawn in to join with him in the commission of the sin, he cannot escape joining with him in the concealment of it, though it be with the most horrid perjuries and execrations. They hear cursing when they are sworn to tell the whole truth, but they will not confess. 2. They hasten to utter ruin: They even hate their own souls, for they wilfully do that which will be the inevitable destruction of them. See the absurdities sinners are guilty of; they love death, than which nothing is more dreadful, and hate their own souls, than which nothing is more dear.